Minnesota Republican Justin Eichorn resigns after underage prostitution scandal

Minnesota state Sen. Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids) has sent his letter of resignation to Gov. Tim Walz (DFL) after an arrest and charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution.

Eichorn’s resignation was confirmed on Thursday in a statement from Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks), who called for his colleague’s resignation on Tuesday. Both Republicans and Democrats were prepared to vote to expel him during Thursday’s Senate session if he hadn’t resigned by then.

“This is the right thing to do for his family and the Senate,” Johnson said. “We are ready to move on and do the important work that needs to be done at the Capitol.”

BREAKING: Minnesota State Sen. Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids) resigns after being charged with soliciting a minor for prostitution. The body was likely about to pass a bipartisan expulsion vote against him Thursday morning. pic.twitter.com/yIohlDwXet

— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) March 20, 2025

Eichorn was arrested on Monday night by the Bloomington Police Department after the 40-year-old was caught in a sting operation. Eichorn, who is the father of four children, reportedly thought he was communicating and planning to meet a 17-year-old girl.

Eichorn was first elected to the Minnesota state Senate in 2016. On the same day he was arrested, Eichorn was one of five Republican authors to help introduce Senate File 2589, a bill that would designate “Trump Derangement Syndrome” as an officially recognized mental illness in the state of Minnesota. Johnson called the bill “tongue in cheek” on Tuesday.

Johnson told the media after Thursday’s session that a special election will be coordinated with Walz’s office to fill the vacancy left by Eichorn’s resignation.

EDITOR’S NOTE (3/20): A previous version of this story cited Eichorn’s first name as “Jim.” It’s “Justin.”